Critical pertussis in a young infant requiring mechanical ventilation

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology

Background:

• Pertussis (whooping cough) is often misdiagnosed in its early stages as a common respiratory infection.
• Lack of awareness can lead to misdiagnosis of severe pertussis as respiratory failure or septic shock.
• Critical pertussis can be fatal, necessitating pediatric intensive care unit admission and mechanical ventilation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of severe pertussis in an infant.
• To highlight diagnostic challenges and treatment outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 7-week-old infant with gasping, respiratory failure, and septic shock.
• Diagnosis of pertussis confirmed late during hospitalization.
• Treatment included mechanical ventilation, fluid therapy, antibiotics, and macrolides.
• Bordetella pertussis isolation via Bordet-Gengou media culture.

Main Results:

• The infant presented with severe respiratory distress and septic shock.
• Pertussis was diagnosed late, but the patient improved after macrolide administration.
• Bordetella pertussis was successfully isolated from culture.

Conclusions:

• Early and accurate diagnosis of pertussis is vital, especially in infants.
• Medical professionals, particularly in primary care, need increased awareness.
• Timely antibiotic treatment, such as macrolides, can be effective in severe cases.